The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-26
wAsYISGTON NEWS.

On Friday las' Congress passed the anti
poligamy bill, by decisive majority, ant
il Is now In the Presto ents hands. II Is
long and comprehensive document, anC
virtually sounds the death knell Of Nor
,nouism. II provides punishment for pc
ligamous marriages and adultery; disin
herits illegitimate children; dissolves tn,
Emigration Fund Company corporation a
we'll rs the charter Of the Mormon Church
Corporation itself, and devotes the funds OF
both 70 the public school fund Of the terri
tory.
On Thursday the House by vote of II,
ayes TO l2j noes refused 10 pass the pen
sion grab bill over the veto OF the Presi
dent The great speech against the bill
was IN ade by General Bragg OF Wisconsin
who especially scored TIC Ma ilRdl Tn.
bane, nOminally SOLDIERS paper" but
ieally the organ OF the claim agents, pub
iished by men who get from .2j 900 10 $50,
900 II UIth as fees from pensiones, men
who have grown rich out Of changes made
up-nIen r, aud who boast that they
have expended large amount of money
not % secure 20 disabled soldiers larger pen
siOns. but in lobbying through congress
Legislation 10 Increase the claim agents
tttS. ut5t Olc TIC Iltu WIN arc tut
the chief friends II this bill, aided and
abetted by the republican side and nerve
Less democrats who looked to the possible
effect Of the bill as bait 10 catch the sol
dier vote.
The great defect of the bill is not the
enormous amount Of money IL would give
away; but IL has the defect that all stu
dents of political economy recognize; the
giving Of charity with indiscriminate pro
digaity without respect 10 It's moral effects
a system Of aid or relief that does not
help the deserving poor 50 much AS II en-
Courages idleness and dependency. In set
terms, II encourages pauperism, and
strengthens the idea, growing too promi.
nent already In this country, that the gov.
eminent, national or local is bound 70 sup
port. In some way, every tramp, vagrant or
iiler who asks IL. There are too many
nov who believe that 1.-The world owes
them living" and that "the world"
should pay II without grumbllng, whether
the Supposed debt has been for value re-
ceived or not The world doubtless con
tiins living for every man, but he should
earn II, and all who try can earn H. This
free support OF everybody may not have
been the purpose of the bill Ia the mind OF
its protector, but this would have been lie
effect II II had become Il law, and every
right minded man, however he may feel
o1 the subject of II general pensiouing OF
deserving aged and physically disabled
veterans whether these disabilities result
I'd from the effects Of war service or merely
Old age ought to applaud the sentiment
III Mr., Morrison, who voted for the bill
originally, but voted 70 sustain the veto -
Il nin satisfied the bill Is fairly
subject to the objections urged against Il IN
the yet0. Besides, the veto is so far above
the high. water mark of ordinary 'Necutive
Independence and official manhood, that
feel like sharing and taking my little pert
Of the resp nsibility" or that of Mr
Springer, who thought the President
would have been false 10 sacred trust If
he had not called attention to the ambigui
ties Of the bill and the misconsiruction
which might be placed upon L."
On Wednesday Senator Sherman, presi
dent pro tenn. of the senate, resigned that
Mice on the ground that as his term rs sen
ator Is about TO expire, II would facilitate
the business Of the senate and the public
TO elect a president whose term extended
beyond March 18th, so that he could admin
lister the oath 70 senators elect and aid In
tie Reorganization of that body. II will
take effect today at one O'clock.
A bill creating an executive departmen
known as the Department of Agriculture
AMI Labor, was passed by the senate. II
will have Secretary and AN assistant, 70 be
appointed by the President. The weather
signal service and labor bureau will be
transferred TO this department
Mr.. A. A. Whipple and Frank II. Warbei
OF this city have been granted pensions.